COVID-19 vaccine—Frequently asked questions

Modified on 1/28/2022 at 08:11am

Updated bivalent booster doses are recommended for: 

• Everyone aged 5 years and older if it has been at least 2 months since your last dose. 
• Children aged 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna primary series and if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose. 

NOTE: There is no booster recommendation for children aged 6 months–4 years who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine primary series. 

Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters | CDC 

NOTE: Individuals—particularly adolescent or young adult males—might consider waiting four weeks after receiving a orthopoxvirus vaccination (either JYNNEOS or ACAM2000) before receiving a Moderna, Novavax, or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

This is because of the observed risk for myocarditis and/or pericarditis after receiving the  ACAM2000 orthopoxvirus vaccine and mRNA (i.e., Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech) and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the unknown risk for myocarditis and/or pericarditis after receiving the JYNNEOS vaccine.

Yes, it is recommended you receive a COVID-19 booster even if you’ve already had and recovered from COVID-19.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19. You may consider delaying your vaccine by three months from when your symptoms started or, if you had no symptoms, when you received a positive test.

People who already had COVID-19 and do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get vaccinated after their recovery.

A monovalent COVID-19 mRNA booster only protects against the original strain of COVID-19. Bivalent COVID-19 mRNA boosters are updated boosters that include protection against both the original strain of COVID-19, as well as the omicron variants.

UEHC is offering first, second, and booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

UEHC will not offer the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) or Novavax vaccines, though these vaccines are widely available through community pharmacies.

You can also receive your flu vaccination through UEHC, which can be administered at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine.

Employees can schedule their booster (or first or second doses) of the COVID-19 vaccine through the University Employee Health Clinic (UEHC) by following the directions below.

You can also email UEHC UEHCReadySet@healthcare.uiowa.edu or call 319-356-3631 if you cannot self-schedule in ReadySet.

Yes, you can reach still receive the booster through UEHC by following the directions in the question above.

Yes, though you should review the details below to determine your eligibility based on the vaccine you received as part of your primary vaccination series:  

Primary series:  

• The CDC does not recommend mixing vaccines for your primary series doses.  

Boosters:  

• People ages 5 years and older may get a different vaccine for a booster than they received for their primary series. Bivalent vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) are recommended. 
• Children ages 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna primary series may receive a bivalent booster, if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose. 
• Novavax booster: 
  • You may choose to receive monovalent Novavax booster if you are unable or unwilling to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna updated (bivalent) COVID-19 booster and if you meet the following requirements: 
    • You are 18 years of age or older 
    • You completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series at least six months ago 
    • You have not received any other booster dose 

People who completed all of the recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine which is listed for emergency use by the WHO but is not approved or authorized by FDA, or people who completed a heterologous (mix and match) series composed of any combination of FDA-approved, FDA-authorized, or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 vaccines:

• Are considered fully vaccinated.
• Under the Emergency Use Instructions (EUI), moderately or severely immunocompromised people aged ≥12 years should receive an additional primary dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (30 µg formulation [purple cap]) at least 28 days after receiving the second vaccine dose of their primary series.
• Under the EUI, people aged ≥18 years (including moderately or severely immunocompromised people who received an additional primary dose) should receive a single booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (30 µg formulation [purple cap]) at least 6 months after completing their primary series.

WHO has listed the following COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use:

• • Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (e.g., BNT162b2, COMIRNATY, Tozinameran)
  • AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine (e.g., [ChAdOx1-S (recombinant)], AZD1222, Covishield, Vaxzevria)
  • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine (e.g., Ad26.COV2.S)
  • Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (e.g., mRNA 1273, Takeda, Spikevax)
  • Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine (Nuvaxovid; recombinant, adjuvanted)
  • Sinopharm-BIBP COVID-19 Vaccine
  • Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 Vaccine
  • Bharat Biotech International COVID-19 Vaccine (e.g., BBV152, COVAXIN)

Please remember to bring your employee ID badge and your vaccination card with you to your appointment. 

• Arm pain
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Chills

No. However, it is important you update your COVID-19 Immunization Survey in ReadySet to indicate that you have received your booster elsewhere. 

Hourly employees and non-exempt employees, who normally badge in ELMS, will be paid for the time spent receiving the vaccine through the University Employee Health Clinic. There is a badge reader located in the vaccination clinic.

You can view the date of your last COVID-19 vaccination on your COVID-19 vaccine card.

If you received your initial COVID-19 vaccinations through the University Employee Health Clinic, you can also view this information by logging into ReadySet. Once in ReadySet, choose “Results” under Test Results on the left-hand menu. In the list to the right, choose “COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) IMMUNIZATION RECORD,” and “Date vaccine administered,” and in the middle of the page it will show the date it was received.

You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing a two dose mRNA vaccine series (like the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines), two weeks after the two dose Novavax vaccine series, or two weeks after the one dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. 

Sometimes people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised do not build enough protection when they first get a vaccination. When this happens, getting another dose of the vaccine can sometimes help them build more protection against the disease.

This appears to be the case for some immunocompromised people and COVID-19 vaccines. In these cases, the additional dose is considered part of their original COVID-19 vaccination series. Certain immunocompromised individuals require three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines as their primary series instead of the two doses required by the general population. Similarly, certain immunocompromised individuals require two doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine as their primary series, instead of the one dose required by the general population.

In contrast, a “booster dose” refers to another dose of a vaccine given to someone who built enough protection after their primary COVID-19 vaccination series (two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech/Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson). Over time, immunity provided by the vaccines starts to decrease—something known as “waning immunity.” Booster doses are administered to re-strengthen immunity against the COVID-19 virus.

If you are age 18 or older and received an additional dose of the Moderna vaccine, or age 12 years or older and received an additional dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, you are eligible for boosters.

View a full breakdown of first and second boosters.

Employees can schedule their primary series or booster vaccinations by calling the University Employee Health Clinic at 319-356-3631, option 3. You may also email employee-health@uiowa.edu to request an appointment.

NOTE: Employees must complete the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Immunization Survey in ReadySet prior to receiving their vaccination.

The COVID-19 vaccine will be offered to UI Health Care employees at no cost.

The timing of your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be coordinated by the University Employee Health Clinic.

UI Health Care follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for second dose of COVID-19 vaccinations:

• For the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, second doses are administered at least 21 days after the first dose and preferably within 42 days.
• For the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, second doses are administered at least 21 days after the first dose and preferably within 42 days.
• For the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, second doses are administered at least 28 days after the first dose and preferably within 42 days.

Hourly employees and nonexempt employees, who normally badge in ELMS, will be paid for the time spent receiving the vaccine. There is a badge reader located in the vaccination clinic.

Yes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID-19 health care staff vaccination rule requires staff to document either their vaccination or their exemption by satisfying one of the following three criteria:

1. Submit your COVID-19 vaccination information through self-service; or
2. Apply for a medical exemption; or
3. Submit an attestation for a religious or strongly held belief exemption

View more information.

We will use ReadySet to track COVID-19 vaccinations, much like the annual employee flu vaccination campaign. ReadySet is a way to process important information while protecting your privacy. In addition, a compliance will be assigned in Compliance and Qualifications (CQ). These systems also interface with the Iowa Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS), the state of Iowa’s vaccination registry.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all eligible persons, including pregnant and lactating individuals, receive a COVID-19 vaccine or vaccine series. Obstetrician-gynecologists and other women’s health care practitioners should lead by example by being vaccinated and encouraging eligible patients to be vaccinated as well.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM) suggest lactating individuals get the vaccine. This means if you are lactating, you can and should get the COVID-19 vaccine. You can still breastfeed after receiving the vaccine.

Like other drugs and biologics, vaccines released in the U.S. must go through multiple phases of rigorous testing, analysis, and review as they are developed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) closely monitors the vaccine development process and testing results for efficacy and safety. As part of the FDA’s formal process to determine if the vaccine is approved for public use, it also seeks a recommendation from a multidisciplinary team of experts consisting of independent medical officers, microbiologists, chemists, biostatisticians, and other health experts. If approved, the FDA continues to oversee the vaccine and its manufacturing to ensure ongoing safety.

Although the speed of the COVID-19 development is faster than typical, COVID-19 vaccines are still required to go through the proper testing and analysis to make sure they are safe—no step in the process has been skipped. However, the federal government is funding advance production of some of the more promising vaccines so at least a limited supply would be available quickly after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

Read more: Our own coronavirus expert advises federal agencies on COVID-19 vaccine

In certain types of emergencies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can issue an emergency use authorization (EUA) to provide more timely access to drugs, diagnostic tests, or other critical medical products that may help during an emergency, like the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Learn more about EUAs in this video. 

These vaccines do not contain the virus, so they can’t give you COVID-19.

No. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. They do not insert themselves in the genome, which is made of DNA.

No. COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility. There is no reason or evidence in the clinical studies that would indicate that this could be a side effect.

Watch more about vaccines and fertility in this Vaxx Facts video.

Yes. The COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials included people from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds to be confident that the vaccine is safe and works for these groups. In the Pfizer-BioNTech clinical trials, approximately 42% of global participants and 30% of U.S. participants have racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, and 41% of global and 45% of U.S. participants are 56-85 years of age. A breakdown of the diversity of clinical trial participants can be found here from approximately 150 clinical trials sites in United States, Germany, Turkey, South Africa, Brazil and Argentina.

More detailed information about the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines can be found from the Centers and Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) here:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Moderna.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Pfizer-BioNTech.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/janssen.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/novavax.html

• Arm pain  
• Headache  
• Fatigue  
• Fever  
• Chills 

Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax have reported that while in the clinical trials many participants reported a sore arm or redness at the injection site. Additional side effects included fever, fatigue, headache, or body aches. Most of the people described these symptoms to be mild or moderate in nature and the symptoms did not disrupt daily activities. These side effects are normal and means that your body is responding to the vaccine and the vaccine is doing its job.

UI Health Care employees should report any side effects or concerns to the University Employee Health Clinic. You may also receive an internal Qualtrics survey following your vaccinations to ask about any side effects to track our internal experiences with the vaccine. There are additional optional tracking tools through the CDC called v-safe and VAERS. (See additional FAQs below.)

If you feel you are too unwell to work after receiving the vaccine, you should first use your available COVID-19 leave. If that is exhausted, utilize regular sick leave. Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can be used to provide relief from symptoms but is advised that these should not be taken before receiving the vaccine. If your provider has recommended that you avoid these medications due to your ongoing health conditions, please discuss options with your provider. 

Yes, you may take Tylenol or ibuprofen for these side effects of the vaccine if do not have health conditions prohibiting their use. Please check with your primary care provider if you have questions. 

V-safe is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s tool that tracks your health after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Using it is entirely optional. UI Health Care employees should report any side effects or concerns to the University Employee Health Clinic first before using v-safe. V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you. And v-safe will remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one. 

VAERS, or the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, is used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to track adverse side effects of vaccines. It uses the tool, v-safe, to track personalized health check-ins after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Using VAERS through v-safe is entirely optional. UI Health Care employees should report any side effects or concerns to the University Employee Health Clinic first before using v-safe. 

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, have been shown to be about 95% effective. Novavax was about 90.4% effective in clinical trials, while Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine was 66.3% effective. All authorized vaccines are safe and effective.

If people who have received the vaccine come in contact with COVID-19 during their daily lives, there is a 95% probability they are protected from symptomatic COVID-19 disease compared to someone who has not been vaccinated. In the Pfizer-BioNTech trial, only nine cases of COVID-19 occurred in the vaccinated group and 169 cases were seen in those who were in the placebo group. All of these infections occurred during normal daily exposure to COVID–19.

View the graphics below to learn more about how mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) and viral vector vaccines (Johnson & Johnson) protect you against COVID-19.

Click to download a pdf of this graphic.

Click to download a pdf of this graphic.

Yes. Even after you have been vaccinated you must continue to follow all our PPE and safety guidelines while at work. 

Read more about following safety guidelines after vaccination outside of work and in the community here.

It typically takes two weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19. That means it is possible a person could still get COVID-19 before or just after vaccination because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection. People are considered fully protected two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Source: CDC

People considered moderately to severely immunocompromised are limited to include those who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors, or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Those who fall into these categories make up only about 3% of the adult population. Although those with breakthrough COVID-19 infections have been rarely hospitalized, fully vaccinated, immunocompromised people have accounted for a large proportion of those who do end up hospitalized with breakthrough infections. If you are uncertain if you are eligible to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose based on these criteria, please contact your primary care provider.

If you are unsure if you are eligible for an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at this time or have concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccine you received, please contact your primary care provider.

Having a weakened immune system puts you at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and makes you much more likely to have a breakthrough infection (breakthrough infections occur when vaccinated individuals contract the disease they’ve been vaccinated against). Studies show that the initial vaccine doses are not as effective for people with weakened immune systems, as they don’t always produce the same level of antibodies to build adequate levels of protection. Hospitalized breakthrough cases are rare, but are also more likely in immunocompromised people. An additional dose of the vaccine will help to further strengthen your immunity against COVID-19.

In addition to an additional dose, everyone ages 18 years and older who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is eligible for a booster shot.

If you are moderately to severely immunocompromised and have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) or Moderna vaccines, you are no longer considered fully vaccinated and are now recommended to receive the additional dose in the vaccine series.

If you have received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, you should receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster.

In addition to an additional dose, everyone ages 18 years and older who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is eligible for a booster shot.

NOTE: If you are moderately to severely immunocompromised and have received two doses of the Novavax vaccine, an additional dose of this vaccine has not yet been approved.

Eligible University of Iowa employees who would like to schedule an additional dose of the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be able to receive it through the University Employee Health Clinic.

To schedule an appointment, call the University Employee Health Clinic at 319-356-3631, option 3. You may also email employee-health@uiowa.edu to request an appointment. 

UEHC will provide instructions to update your ReadySet COVID-19 Immunization Survey to reflect self-attestation of employees that meet the CDC criteria listed above.

The strongest protection comes from getting vaccinated.

Although the additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will further strengthen your immunity, it is important to realize that the vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing illness or from contracting (and then spreading) COVID-19. You should also protect yourself and others by wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands often. Each of these are important ways to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19, but they become very effective when you combine them.

If you are moderately to severely immunocompromised and do not get an additional dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, you will no longer be considered fully vaccinated.

In addition to an additional dose, everyone ages 18 years and older who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is eligible for a booster shot.

No. People who are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation if they are found to test positive.

Regardless of your vaccination status or whether or not you are immunocompromised, it is important to get tested if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and to stay home if you are sick.

What to do if you feel unwell 

To be safe, you should stay home if you feel unwell. You should also call the University Employee Health Clinic at 319-356-3631 if you experience any symptoms that are similar to symptoms of COVID-19.

COVID-19 symptoms:   

• A fever in the last 24 hours
• New or worsening:
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

Individuals who are age 18 or older and are not immunocompromised should receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster. Learn more about scheduling a booster.

In late February 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Added considerations for an 8-week interval between the first and second doses of a primary mRNA vaccine schedule.

A summary of the current recommendations is below.  

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are FDA-approved or authorized for a 3-week (Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine) or 4-week (Moderna vaccine) interval between the first and second dose.

A 3- or 4-week interval continues to be the recommended interval for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, adults ages 65 years and older, and others who need rapid protection due to increased concern about community transmission or risk of severe disease.

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at the FDA-approved or FDA-authorized intervals, but a longer interval may be considered for some populations. While absolute risk remains small, the relative risk for myocarditis is higher for males ages 12-39 years, and this risk might be reduced by extending the interval between the first and second dose.

Some studies in adolescents (ages 12-17 years) and adults have shown the small risk of myocarditis associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines might be reduced and peak antibody responses and vaccine effectiveness may be increased with an interval longer than 4 weeks. Extending the interval beyond 8 weeks has not been shown to provide additional benefit. There is currently no data available for children ages 11 years and younger. Therefore, an 8-week interval may be optimal for some people ages 12 years and older, especially for males ages 12–39 years.

Source: CDC

Individuals ages 6 months and older are now eligible to receive the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccination for COVID-19. Boosters are recommended for everyone 5 years and older, if eligible.

Information on how to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination through UI Health Care can be found through MyChart or by visiting uihc.org/covid-vaccine.

With the help of UI Health Care vaccine hesitancy expert Aaron Scherer, PhD, we’ve provided five techniques to help providers answer that question.

In addition, the guidelines below provide general recommendations for speaking with pediatric patients and their families about the COVID-19 vaccines.

Be empathic

It is possible that parents may be anxious and fearful of giving these vaccines to their children.  Use empathy wherever the opportunity presents.   “I understand that you may feel apprehensive about making this decision…”, “I can imagine that you may have concerns…”

Acknowledging

Acknowledge comments, e.g., “That’s a good question, thanks for asking….” “Thank you for sharing your concerns…..” “It is perfectly understandable to be concerned about new vaccines……”

Listening

Listen fully to the individual’s questions/concerns so they know they are being heard. Instead of asking a patient what they’re most concerned about and then immediately providing them with information addressing that concern, try asking, “What else are you concerned about?” Keep asking until the patient runs out of concerns and be sure to thank them for sharing their concerns.

Responding

Ask the patient if you may speak with them about your perspective on the COVID-19 vaccines. This helps the patient have an increased sense of personal control and will make them less likely to respond defensively to what you might have to say.

• Children and adolescents ages five and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be vaccinated against COVID-19 when they are eligible to help protect themselves from severe illness and as an important step in ending the pandemic.
• Children can get COVID-19 just like adults. While oftentimes children with COVID-19 may not end up getting as sick as adults with COVID-19 might, they are still at risk for severe illness and can spread the virus to other children, as well as adults who may experience severe illness.
• Vaccinating children is safe and effective for your child and your family and is an important step to returning to normal things like in-person learning, sports, and activities.
• Although the speed of the COVID-19 vaccine development is faster than typical, COVID-19 vaccines are still required to go through the proper testing and analysis to make sure they are safe—no step in the process has been skipped.
• COVID-19 vaccines do not contain the virus, so they can’t give your child COVID-19. These vaccines contain genetic instructions that allow your child’s own cells to make one of the virus proteins. Your child’s immune system reacts to this protein to make antibodies and other immune cells that can recognize and fight COVID-19 if your child does get exposed.
• Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. They do not insert themselves in the genome, which is made of DNA. They cannot change your child’s DNA.

Read more strategies for addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy on The Loop.

You can find more information on our website at uihc.org/covid-vaccine. 

Resources:

• Five tips for addressing vaccine hesitancy with your patients
• Provider talking points
• Pediatric vaccinations: Get the facts
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Mandarin
  • Arabic
  • Swahili
• Tips for distraction during vaccination
• How mRNA vaccines work
• uihc.org/covid-vaccine

Children can get COVID-19 just like adults. While oftentimes children with COVID-19 may not end up as getting sick as adults with COVID-19 might, they are still at risk for severe illness and can spread the virus to other children, as well as adults who may experience severe illness. Vaccinating children is safe and effective for your child and your family and is an important step to returning to normal things like in-person learning, sports, and activities.

The dosage administered of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines vary depending on the age of the child receiving the vaccine. Younger children receive lower doses in comparison to older children and adults.

Children receiving the vaccine may experience the same side effects as an adult would. Common side effects include a sore arm, fatigue, headache, fever, or chills lasting up to around 48 hours after vaccination. These side effects are normal and show that the body is mounting a response to the vaccine, which helps your child’s body to protect itself against the COVID-19 virus. Some patients may not experience these side effects, but the vaccine is working.

No. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine get vaccinated as soon as they are able. Clinical trials show that this vaccine is safe and effective for children.

No. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. These vaccines give your child’s cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus, which then teaches their body how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if they are exposed in the future. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain the virus, so they can’t give your child COVID-19.

No. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. The messenger RNA contained in the COVID-19 vaccine cannot integrate into your child’s DNA or their human genes and is broken down very quickly once it’s exposed in the body. The COVID-19 vaccines cannot change your child’s DNA.

Learn more about mRNA vaccines.

Yes, if a patient is eligible, both flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered at the same visit. In addition to flu vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines as well.

Is your child scared of needles?

• Helping your child with a needle stick

Everyone aged 5 years and older is eligible to receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose. 

Children aged 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna primary series are eligible to receive a booster if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose.

Updates and information for UI Health Care patients and members of the public can be found at uihc.org/covid-vaccine.

You can show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in either of the two ways listed below. Verbal report of COVID-19 vaccination is not accepted.

• Upload photo via Mychart
• Bring documentation in-person

Vaccination documentation can be a photo of your COVID-19 vaccination card or documented proof of vaccination from a pharmacy or health care provider.

Note that when a patient checks into an encounter, IRIS is queried and updated COVID-19 vaccination information will be available under both Health Maintenance and Immunizations. Staff can manually query IRIS without an encounter by opening the patient’s chart either by using Patient Station or the Open button, choosing the Immunizations tab and selecting Imm Registry to trigger a query.

Please see the following links for step-by-step instructions in Epic for validating COVID-19 vaccination status, entering historical immunization records, and reconciling outside immunizations.

To log in to ReadySet, visit uehc.link/MyReadySet and enter your HawkID and password.  

You can view step-by-step instructions for completing the survey here. 

No. No further action in ReadySet is required before/after receiving your second dose.

We are following guidance of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For example, if you answer “yes” to the question, “Are you pregnant or plan to become pregnant,” or “Have you had an allergic reaction,” it does not mean you should not get the vaccine. These questions are used for educational purposes and may be discussed with you by a provider of the University Employee Health Clinic.  

No, the immunization survey in ReadySet asks these health questions for educational purposes and may be discussed with you by a provider of the University Employee Health Clinic. Answering yes to the questions does not exclude you from getting the vaccine. 

The COVID-19 Immunization Survey in ReadySet allows us to begin the scheduling process across all phases. It also helps us understand the doses UI Health Care will need to provide the vaccine to all those who wish to receive it. 

ReadySet is a system that keeps your personal and employment health records separate, as required by federal law. All vaccination records and tests are kept in ReadySet. 

Yes. Response to this survey is a mandatory response compliance, similar to the flu campaign. Understanding which employees do and do not wish to receive the vaccine allows us to schedule and plan for each phase of vaccine distribution. 

If you need to reset your ReadySet survey, please contact UEHCReadySet@healthcare.uiowa.edu . 

No. You will receive an automated CQ notice either 35 or 42 days (depending on which vaccine you were given) after your first dose but you are not out of compliance. 

You will schedule your second dose during your first dose appointment within the appropriate timeframe for the vaccine you received. You do not need to take any further action in CQ or in ReadySet related to the vaccination process. 

Once you have completed the COVID-19 Immunization Survey in ReadySet, you will receive an email directing you to contact the University Employee Health Clinic at 319-356-3631, Option 3, to schedule an appointment.

If you’re new to ReadySet, find more information here. 

Yes, you should still complete this survey in ReadySet.

Yes, for UI Health Care to be in compliance with Iowa law to administer vaccinations, the data in ReadySet is uploaded daily to Iowa’s Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS). This is the same process that occurs when you receive any vaccine, including vaccines from your primary care providers.

Yes, for UI Health Care to be in compliance with Iowa law to administer vaccinations, the data in ReadySet is uploaded daily to Iowa’s Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS). This is the same process that occurs when you receive any vaccine, including vaccines from your primary care providers. 

IRIS maintains immunization information from participating health care providers and combines it into one immunization record. This helps health care providers, parents, and individuals keep track of their immunization status, even if they have received vaccines from more than one provider. Read more.

Yes, but by law, only authorized users are allowed to access immunization information in IRIS. Authorized users include health care providers, local public health agencies, hospitals, pharmacies, and schools.  Read more.